At the Velvet Haven, the mood was anything but serene. Avery, upon learning that Gordon had been released unharmed, was livid. In a fit of rage, he hurled several antique crystal goblets across the room, shattering them into a thousand glittering shards upon the hardwood floor.
"Mr. Chambers, please, calm yourself," came the cautious voice of Wayne from the other end of the phone. "The n was foolproof. That secretary by Thaddeus'' side was supposed to be finished. Who could have guessed that bastard from S- Star Group would change his testimony at thest minute, taking the fall for everything? It was unforeseen, I had no leverage."
"Did S-Star put the screws to him?" Avery growled, his eyes zing red as he bent to pick up a piece of broken ss, his fingers curling tightly around it.
Blood, rich and crimson, seeped through his fingers, staining his pale hands with its warmth. He felt no pain, only a slight easing of the tightness in his chest.
"Mark is old, sick from a lifetime in the trenches, long retired from the fray. Now, it''s Lionel at the helm of S-Star," Wayne said, his voice dark with menace. "Lionel''s been cozying up to Aviana, and with Ms. Evadne pulling in a favor, Lionel had no choice but to bail them out."
"Our push for Warner''s new drug was going smoothly until we hit the wall with S- Star," Avery said, slowly unfolding his bloodied hand to reveal the mangled palm. A cruel smile yed on his lips. "That Lionel, find a way to deal with him without getting my hands dirty."
"Do you want him taken out?" Wayne asked.
"Killing him would draw too much heat if we disrupt the core of S-Star. Just find a way to keep him from interfering, that''ll suffice."
With that, Avery tossed aside the ss shard and walked over to the window. His gaze fell upon the thriving rose he had nurtured with obsessive care. His face softened with a disturbing gentleness as he caressed the vibrant petals, as if they were the face of a lover.
"That mongrel isn''t worth my time or the dirt on my hands."
"You''re right. That lowlife is something I can handle for you," Wayne assured him, his voice cautious yet eager. "Mr. Chambers, will the new drug be a sess?"
"It will. With enough trial subjects and urate data, we''re one step closer," Avery affirmed.
"That''s excellent news! Let me know if you face any obstacles. I''m at your beck and call, as long as the druges to fruition."
After ending the call, Harvey walked in, only to find a room in chaos and blood spattered all over the floor. Panicking, he rushed over to Avery.
"Mr. Chambers! Are you hurt? I''ll get a doctor to bandage you up right away!" "The medicine. I need it."
Avery''s hand shook uncontrobly, even his facial muscles twitching beyond his control. Harvey quickly understood, retrieving a syringe from the safe and injecting the medication into Avery''s vein with practiced ease.
"Mr. Chambers, it seems like your episodes have be more frequent since thest batch ran out," Harvey observed, worry etching his features. "You can''t keep using this drug. It''s controlling your tremors, but your body''s dependency is growing, and the side effects are bing more pronounced."
"You think I haven''t tried to quit?" Avery slurred, his gaze fixed on the opulent crystal chandelier above. He felt the room spin, but the sensation was oddlyforting. "I can''t. The withdrawal is worse than any addiction."
Harvey opened his mouth to respond but found himself at a loss for words.
"Harvey, was I deceived? Is this medicine actually poison? Will I be dependent on it for life?"
Before Harvey could reply, Avery let out a self-mocking chuckle. "Does it even matter? My life is his to take if he wishes, and I''d have noints. I just can''t bear the thought of losing Evadne. If I can''t be with her, at the very least, I want to be the one by her side until the end."
Unbeknownst to Avery, a sophisticated, waterproof bug nted at the bottom of the rose pot was transmitting every word and sound from the room.
In all this time, Avery had turned every inch of the room upside down except for that rose pot. Hisplete devotion had shielded it from suspicion. Little did he know that his most cherished possession housed the very device spying on him. Thaddeus'' secretary was briefly caught up in a drug scandal, but Thaddeus quickly squashed the story online.
The next morning, Gordon appeared right on schedule at the Abernathy Group headquarters. Heads turned as he walked confidently through the front door, dispelling the rumors with his presence.
The day after getting her medication, Evadne woke up early, ready to return to Skyrim and see Chasel. Thaddeus had been working nonstop and was exhausted. She was careful not to disturb his rest as she prepared to leave.
Once ready, Evadne hesitated, then walked back to the bed, unable to resist sitting down one more time. Thaddeus'' muscr chest was bare, the love bites and marks from the previous night visible against his skin.
Her cheeks flushed as she leaned over and kissed him. "I''ll spoil you rotten when I get back," she whispered with a mischievous grin, her face warm with the lingering blush of their intimacy.
Just then, Evadne leaned forward sharply.
Thaddeus, who had awakened at some unknown moment, still had his eyes closed. Hisrge hand snaked around the back of her head and pressed down, sealing her lips with a fiery kiss.
"Mmm." Evadne''s defenses crumbled, her breathing bing erratic.
With his other strong arm wrapping around her waist, Thaddeus teased and nibbled, his tongue relentlessly entwining with hers, sending her mind into a whirlwind of sensation.
Only when her breaths becamebored did he release her. He panted heavily, his fingertips grazing over her now-faded lip color,
"Your lipstick tastes so delicious."
"So annoying. I had just put it on, and you''ve ruined it again." Evadne yfully hit
his chest, snuggling closer to his body.
His morning desire was evident, even through the downforter, pressing against her lower abdomen.
Thaddeus, gripping her waist, suddenly flipped her beneath him.
"I''ve had a taste of your lips. How about I indulge myself a little more?"